Seven games, 3.0 points, 33.3% FG%, 31.3% 3PT%, worst DRtg of any rotation player.
Crowder was an above-average starter last year. Let’s keep some perspective.
Yes, it’s wise to keep some perspective, and stats get us grounded in reality.
Update:
Ten games;
eFG% .646;
.429 3Pt%
I’d suggest that points per game for Semi are not terribly useful; his minutes have fluctuated from DNP-CD to 22, which is from G-League fodder to 7th/8th man level. More importantly - he’s not in there to score points, and only has a peripheral role in the offense; his usage rate is 8.1%! (having said that, he’s fulfilling his role to a T).
FG% in his case is almost a perversely deceptive stat, given that he’s only even shot three two-pointers - and 21 three-pointers. eFG% gives you a much better view of what he’s contributing with his shooting. If you add in his FT effectiveness, at a stratospheric .668 he leads the team in True Shooting %.
I think that we should retire DRtg. It controls for tempo, but it doesn’t control for who else is on the floor. You’re better off using one of the flavors of adjusted plus-minus, which do.
Seven games, 3.0 points, 33.3% FG%, 31.3% 3PT%, worst DRtg of any rotation player.
Crowder was an above-average starter last year. Let’s keep some perspective.
A voice of reason.
I agree, a Voice of Reason; but louder here is the Chorus of Small Sample Size.
You’ll have to agree that the slightly-larger sample size of ten games tells a different story. Whether or not a .668 TS% is closer to the “true” Semi is less important than the inadequacy of the data.
If I may say so, you’ve got to look at him play basketball. He’s got a great feel for the game, for spacing, quick as a cat, but plays within himself - and those gorgeous shot mechanics! The strength to stay under bigger players and the quickness to stay in front of Dejounte are only as useful as a player can anticipate and act decisively - but he’s got those, too.
To add to that in the hustle stats over 101 minutes he has 10 rebounds, 1 steal, and 0 blocks.
Another Voice of Reason, and you raise a couple of important issues. If you’re questioning his effort, though, I don’t think a lack of effort is what you see. No, he gambles or freelances seldom, plays within himself.
The lack of rebounding so far is a concern. In a month or so we can start looking at 82Games’ team rebounding stats while he’s on the floor. Overall the team has been very impressive on the D board as well as the O board, a result that most of the pundits didn’t predict… fwiw.
By the way, I’m going to get on my hobby horse again and argue for separating offensive from defensive rebounding; and given Semi’s job, offensive rebounding is not likely to happen a lot, even if he has a capability for it. AND defensive rebounding is not really a “hustle” stat - it’s a necessity and everyone has to make sure that it happens while they’re on the floor.
Looks to me like he’s pretty reliable for boxing out, and though he does not particularly have good length, he has great hops and ought to be getting more defensive boards. To be continued!
And having said that he's been down on the floor on three separate occasions to secure the ball for the squad since you wrote this.
The OP though has this unusual spin on things. If Semi hits a few shots, he loses his mind. If he has a stinker, it changes to Semi only being a rookie. The OP has all his bases covered and no longer even makes a post on that scrub Nader. Now the moment he hits a few shots, like clockwork the thread will emerge on Nader being some sort of celestial being. Take off the green goggles, buddy.
I think that you underestimate brother Rollie, and mischaracterize him here. Looks to me like he’s got a good feel for players and what they’re actually doing out on the floor.
Crowder was a starter that was a plus defender who averaged 14 PPG, got 5+ RPG and scored efficiently, especially last year with a TS% of 61%. This all while playing 30MPG.
Simply put, Ojeleye will never achieve this type of success with the Celtics because he is going to have Brown, Hayward, Morris and Tatum in front of him.
If Semi is ever going to eclipse Crowder as a player, it will be for some other team. It won't be here.
You raise a crucial point. Fortunately for Boston, he’s got a four-year deal at bargain money, so Ainge can afford to keep him around whether or not he can stay in the rotation. (By the same token, of course, it makes him easy to trade.)
Morris’ deal is two years at more than three times Ojeleye’s money; I think that Summer 2019 might be a dividing line for Semi’s career, whether with Boston or elsewhere.
While on the whole I’d agree that his minutes are affected by Brown, Hayward, Morris, and Tatum, his remarkable ability to guard up or down allows his coach to pair him with any of those four, and gives him an extremely useful versatility.
Topic: Will Semi "eclipse" Crowder (Read 14035 times)